Bonnie Leon's Blog - Posts Tagged "to-dance-with-dolphins"

To Dance With Dolphins

Finally, TO DANCE WITH DOLPHINS, the story of my heart is here!

Twenty-two-year-old Claire Murray has suffered from a mysterious disease for years. Her social circle has shrunk to a small support group for people with chronic illness and disability. But what if life could be about more than doctors, pain, and medications?
Claire and three others—old grouch Tom, hippy-holdout Willow, and moody Taylor—hatch plans for a cross-country trip to swim with the dolphins in Florida. Only a day into the trip, they unexpectedly need help. And who happens to be hitchhiking along the highway but a young, good-looking loner named Sean Sullivan? However, the last thing he wants is to be harnessed to a bunch of ailing travelers.
Though the journey proves difficult, following God’s plan might be even harder. Will they find the courage to follow their dreams and dare to live again?

Available in paper back and on Kindle

http://amzn.to/1OSje2d
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Published on August 24, 2015 22:38 Tags: on-kindle, paperback, to-dance-with-dolphins

To Dance With Dolphins, the movie.

JUST FOR FUN.

I've been told To Dance With Dolphins would make a great movie. I agree! And I'm already thinking about actors who will bring the characters to life.

I'd like to hear from readers. Who do you think should be cast as -

Claire
Sean
Willow
Tom
Taylor

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

And here's to hoping that one day To Dance With Dolphins is seen on the "big screen".
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Published on October 15, 2015 23:04 Tags: cast-of-characters, movie, movie-stars, to-dance-with-dolphins

BIG NEWS!

I was notified today that my new novel, TO DANCE WITH DOLPHINS has been nominated for a RT Reviewers Choice Award!

Incredibly excited. And honored to have been chosen to be included in the best of the best.

Wow!
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Published on November 12, 2015 18:02 Tags: to-dance-with-dolphins

Christmas Book Giveaway

Stop in at my blog - http://bonnieleon.blogspot.com/2015/1...

Books make great Christmas gifts. I have a new summer release, To Dance With Dolphins, that would love to have a place underneath your Christmas tree.

I'll be posting excerpts on my blog until December 10th, just to give you a glimpse into the story and its interesting characters. I'll also have a Christmas drawing. Each day I leave a story excerpt I'll also post a question and if you answer the question or leave a comment, you'll automatically be entered in the drawing on December 11th. I'll be giving away a complete set of The Alaskan Skies Series or Sydney Cove series. Your choice. - See more at: http://bonnieleon.blogspot.com/2015/1...
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Published on November 29, 2015 23:33 Tags: alaskan-skies, book-giveaway, sydney-cove, to-dance-with-dolphins

Christmas Sales

FABULOUS SALES FROM ASHBERRRY LANE PUBLISHIING!
http://ashberrylane.com
Until January 24 Ashberry Lane is running special prices on books from authors,
Sara Davison
Samuel Hall
Camille Eide
Susan Mass
Diane Price
Angela Ruth Price
Bonnie Leon.

I have three ebooks discounted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Books make great Christmas gift and it’s the perfect time to try something new.

To Dance With Dolphins - 0.99 http://amzn.to/1Yl7U2c
The Journey of Eleven Moons – 0.99 http://amzn.to/1Owytwh
To Love Anew – 0.00 http://amzn.to/1RSoFlE
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For Writers & Everyone Else

I'm pretty sure writers will understand this post, and I think everyone else will too.

I had a story, the story of my heart, that weighed on me for years. It was always in the back of my mind, asking me to write it. I wanted to, but I was busy, or the time wasn't right or publishers wanted something else from me. For years I let it go. But it had to be heard and finally I stepped away from everything else and went to work on the story of my heart.

It wasn't easy. The characters had to be real and quirky and fun. They were together in most scenes. Research required a cross country trip. The book was contemporary and all I'd written was historical. It was personal and revealed my soul. It was risky. And I had to get it right.

I did it. And I felt good about that book.
To Dance with Dolphins
To Dance With Dolphins is the story I had to tell. It's a good story. But it's not one that at first glance is appealing to the masses. It's about people, young and old who live with mental and physical illness. They are real, they are people who suffer like so many of us do.

So, why would anyone want to spend time with characters who suffer? Read an entire book about people who fight just to get out of bed in the morning?

If sales say anything about readers, my guess is that most people don't want to spend more time where they already live. Only, they'd be wrong if they think that's all this book is about. The journey my characters take across this amazing country called America is one we should all take. It's a place to discover who we are, why we're here, and to realize there is so much to hope for and that exuberant joy exists even for the afflicted.

We all experience physical or emotional obstacles. After living with chronic pain for twenty-five years, one thing I know is that everyone has stuff. We all walk through valleys, some of them terrifying and dark, but nevertheless we walk through ... one step at a time. We also climb mountains and stand on summits and gaze at amazing vistas that make us cry because we can't believe something so beautiful even exists. We give and receive love and devotion that reminds us that goodness still flourishes on this planet where we live. And there are troubles we think we will never overcome and then we do.

We try to ignore the places we don't want to think about. The "what ifs" of life. Where there are no winners. Where our bones and souls are crushed - where God meets us. He reaches down and lifts us up, pulls us into His arms, presses us against His heart and wipes away our tears.

How extraordinary it is when we realize that with the Lord there are no losers. Whether in this life or the next, His children win.

I wrote To Dance With Dolphins because I had to. It is a story for those who have no hope. It is a place where they may find it. And for those who stand alongside the suffering I pray it will give you strength.

Mostly it is not about suffering. It is about living and discovering love, joy, and hope. It is the story of my heart, the one I had to tell. I want people to read it. I pray people will read it.


Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie
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Published on June 11, 2016 12:20 Tags: chronic-ilness, hope, to-dance-with-dolphins